Session

Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment

Description

The period June 2012 – March 2014 saw a prolonged deficit of precipitation below normal. This led to a major continental scale drought across southern Europe, and in eastern Kosova in particular. E.g. see figure 1 below for the month of December 2013, from Drought Monitoring Center for SEE. In fact December 2013 was the fifth driest month in the recorded history of Kosova. February registered the driest month in the recorded hydro-meteorological history of Kosova, since 1927 with only 2.1 mm precipitation, which expressed in Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The chance of getting this value in February was 1 in 156. So, since June 2013, consecutively there were dry month, i.e. there was rainfall deficit (a meteorological drought) that consequently led to a hydrological drought. By March 2014 the water supply reservoirs of Batllava, Badovc were at 20% of normal levels, and nearly exhausted. There was approximately not more than 6-8 weeks of water supply remaining for upwards of 500,000 citizens. Situation of drinking water supply was becoming much more difficult to citizens of Prishtina, Podujeva, Kastriot, Fushe Kosova and Gracanica. Thus, water supply restrictions hours were growing and there was a fear to citizens for the lack of water and at the same time were aware for a maximum of water saving. The Government Local and Central authorities, other Institutions, NGO’s, were mobilized in order to find a solution, even for a temporary time, to deal with drought periods. There were few choices as the underground water level was affected by droughts and the only hope was the alternative supply from the Lake Ujmani (Gazivoda) where through the steel pipe fill Badovc Lake. Although, the pipe was not in a good condition because since year 1986 only once was included for operation to the system to fill Badovc Lake in 1996 as the water level fell at this Lake.

Keywords:

Drought, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Reservoirs levels, water losses

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-550-13-0

First Page

201

Last Page

207

Location

Durres, Albania

Start Date

7-11-2015 9:00 AM

End Date

7-11-2015 5:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2015.80

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Nov 7th, 9:00 AM Nov 7th, 5:00 PM

Climate Change and Drinking Water

Durres, Albania

The period June 2012 – March 2014 saw a prolonged deficit of precipitation below normal. This led to a major continental scale drought across southern Europe, and in eastern Kosova in particular. E.g. see figure 1 below for the month of December 2013, from Drought Monitoring Center for SEE. In fact December 2013 was the fifth driest month in the recorded history of Kosova. February registered the driest month in the recorded hydro-meteorological history of Kosova, since 1927 with only 2.1 mm precipitation, which expressed in Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The chance of getting this value in February was 1 in 156. So, since June 2013, consecutively there were dry month, i.e. there was rainfall deficit (a meteorological drought) that consequently led to a hydrological drought. By March 2014 the water supply reservoirs of Batllava, Badovc were at 20% of normal levels, and nearly exhausted. There was approximately not more than 6-8 weeks of water supply remaining for upwards of 500,000 citizens. Situation of drinking water supply was becoming much more difficult to citizens of Prishtina, Podujeva, Kastriot, Fushe Kosova and Gracanica. Thus, water supply restrictions hours were growing and there was a fear to citizens for the lack of water and at the same time were aware for a maximum of water saving. The Government Local and Central authorities, other Institutions, NGO’s, were mobilized in order to find a solution, even for a temporary time, to deal with drought periods. There were few choices as the underground water level was affected by droughts and the only hope was the alternative supply from the Lake Ujmani (Gazivoda) where through the steel pipe fill Badovc Lake. Although, the pipe was not in a good condition because since year 1986 only once was included for operation to the system to fill Badovc Lake in 1996 as the water level fell at this Lake.